SOMEONE tried to gaslight me when I expressed my outrage at the outcome of the US elections, which Donald Trump won, by reminding me that I supported former president Rodrigo Duterte. The person used Duterte to fault me for being inconsistent in my politics. After all, Duterte and Trump have similar political orientations and demeanor. Both are right-wing, foul-mouthed, old men who have misogynist tendencies. And lately, both appeared to be rambling in meandering, incoherent word salads. I was called out allegedly for my readiness to condemn Trump voters and supporters when in the past I aligned with Duterte as one of his social media enablers.
I had to educate the person on one important difference. When I threw my support for Rodrigo Duterte, one who I did not even vote for, he had no presidential record to stand on. He was a novelty who tried to imagine himself as one who would disrupt elite politics. I tried to give him the benefit of the doubt, and worked albeit not in any official capacity, to assist his messaging in social media.
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